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Rat Brains Fly Planes

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the bummer-of-a-support-job dept.

An anonymous reader writes "According to The Age newspaper, scientists at the University of Florida have created neural cell cultures capable of flying an airplane using rat neurons. No actual planes are involved (yet), but the disassembled bits of rodent are already capable of level flight when hooked up to a simulator of an F-22."

5 of 345 comments (clear)

  1. A better idea... by vistic · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    They normally just chuck aborted babies in the incinerator right? Let's use those wasted neurons instead.

    But seriously, dissecting rats is wrong and creepy. Yuck. Boo. I don't like where this disrespect for life is going.

    Let's stick to hardware electronics instead. At least they will more likely do exactly what you program them to do. Neurons could be more unpredictable, and I don't think unpredictability is a good thign when flying a plane, is it?

  2. Re:Think of the possibilities by Wolfrider · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    --Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit outta ma hat!

    Rocky: Again?

    --Nothin' up ma sleeve... Presto! [ plop ]

    Lion: GROWR!!

    --
    .
    == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
  3. Re:Any half-neuron can fly a plane.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Maybe for you. I don't have any problems.

  4. Re:Any half-neuron can fly a plane.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    come now. we all have problems. not admitting to have any is a problem in and of itself.

  5. Re:Just What We Need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Reminds me of another joke I heard once.

    Have you heard the one about the agnostic, dsylexic, insomniac?

    He lies awake in bed at night wondering if there is a dog.